From Burnaby to New West: six spots along 6th St. to enjoy a meal

It’s common for New Westies to visit Burnabarians, and vice versa—so what better way to share the mutual love for each other’s cities than to team up with our sister publication, the Burnaby Beacon, and showcase some great spaces to live, work, and play?

This inaugural edition of 'From 6th to Sixth' includes three spots from Burnaby and three spots in New West you must try for delicious food and drink.

Indian Bombay Bistro

This is the first stop on our list (because it’s at the top of the hill, and we are not fans of walking uphill). This spot has some of the best Indian food in Burnaby with different classic dishes like butter chicken and chicken tikka masala. If you’re visiting, we’d recommend ordering the Indian Bombay Bistro Dinner. It comes with one plain naan, your choice of lamb kebab, a small order of chicken tikka, a small order of tandoori chicken, and chicken curry or yellow dal fry. For $29.95 you’ll definitely be full.

FusionCore Japanese Eatery

Burnaby Beacon's managing editor Simran Singh would have been very upset if we didn’t include this entry. Walking downhill from Bombay Indian Bistro you’ll find FusionCore Japanese Eatery on the same side of the street in a small shopping complex. It specializes in unique sushi creations, and trust us when we say it did not disappoint. We ordered an assortment of classic rolls like the chopped scallop and negihama roll (which was recommended on its website) and both were fresh and tasty.

We also gave in and tried the recommended chicken gristle karaage. For those who have never had gristle before it might be an acquired texture, but the batter was crispy and the gristle was perfectly cooked. It was the perfect side dish that was both unique but also tasted familiar. You can’t go wrong with anything chicken karaage.

Hiel Cafe

We’re sure you’ve driven past this cute cafe many times. Right at the crossroads between Burnaby and New Westminster is Hiel Cafe in the round-shaped store on the corner. Inside there are plenty of plants and large windows to let in a lot of natural light. There’s free WiFi for those looking for a spot to settle down after eating all of that food (or if you’re like us and looking for a spot to write this very article while trying to fight off a food coma).

There's a large menu with plenty of options. We’d recommend trying the souffle pancakes, which are giant and super delicious. When we visited, we unfortunately didn’t have the space to even attempt to eat it. But trust us when we say we’ve seen babies smaller than these pancakes.

We got the shrimp and smoked salmon sandwich with an Irish latte, and both were great. But there is such a large variety of food items on the menu. From brunch classics to poke, we know there will be something here that you’ll like.

Sushi Well

Once you cross 10th Street, head a few blocks past New Westminster Secondary, past the Esso and the Wendy’s, and you’ll find Sushi Well—again, another one Simran would have killed us for not including. Known for its patented pink rice, the menu is extensive: if you’re not into raw fish, it serves a delicious Ebi (shrimp) Katsu meal. We enjoyed the crunch on the breaded shrimp—which perfectly insulated the sweet, juicy shrimp on the inside.

As for the rolls, the only problem we had at Sushi Well was figuring out which ones to order. The menu includes traditional maki, like California and Dynamite, but the special rolls are the ones to watch out for. Don’t leave without getting the tiger prawn roll, and if you’re really hungry give the Okonomi special roll a try: this massive roll includes bacon, your choice of spicy salmon or tuna, imitation crab, and avocado—and it eats like a meal, as we learned after ordering and eating it. We have no regrets.

Co Chau

While we’re going slightly off 6th Street for this one, you won’t be disappointed: this authentic Vietnamese restaurant is considered a hidden Uptown New West gem. Co Chau serves up incredible bowls of pho and refreshing salad rolls, but we couldn’t stop raving about its beautiful spring rolls.

Diners can choose between a pork or veggie filling, but no matter your choice you’ll be treated to crispy, deep-fried goodness: four glistening spring rolls split beautifully on a bamboo serving plate.

We also love the meat skewers. While you can choose from chicken, beef, and pork, don’t sleep on the prawn: its smoky, juicy flavours will tempt you to put in another order.

Dakasi Canada

Rounding off our crawl is Dakasi Tea, which opened its first location in Taiwan in 1990. Since then, it’s popped up in Thailand and the Philippines, and opened its first Canadian location in New Westminster.

Two years on, this has not only become a destination for milk tea, but for some pretty delectable desserts—including cheese tarts and Basque and souffle style cheesecakes.

If you’re a bubble tea lover, one of the more than 60 drinks is sure to satisfy your craving. You can also opt for toppings like aloe, red bean, and lychee jelly. Dakasi’s rewards program includes a variety of perks, from free drinks to its adorable bubble tea plushies.